Why do all the hard work when you can build the answer? McGinnis is Deadlock’s machinery expert, and with her know-how—plus your aim and this build—she’ll very quickly take over the streets of The Cursed Apple.
Here’s an overview of McGinnis’ abilities in Deadlock plus her best item selection and skill build.
McGinnis’ abilities in Deadlock
McGinnis is Deadlock’s chief engineer, summoning turrets, healing specters, and walls to aid her allies in battle. Here’s a dive into McGinnis’ abilities in Deadlock:
- Mini Turret: McGinnis summons a turret to aid in battle. The turret shoots enemies, prioritizing other heroes.
- Medicinal Specter: McGinnis summons a vial of spirit that heals allies in an AoE.
- Spectral Wall: After a delay and a summoned indicator, McGinnis creates a wide wall that damages and slows enemies that are hit by it.
- Heavy Barrage: McGinnis unleashes pure spirit energy, firing volleys of rockets at a targeted area. The area can be moved mid-cast, but McGinnis cannot fire her gun or summon turrets while Heavy Barrage is going. The ability can be canceled early if needed.
McGinnis wields a heavy, cumbersome machine gun that fires slowly but ramps up in damage, range, and fire rate while the trigger is held. Her biggest drawback is her very slow movement speed while firing, as well as her small base magazine—both of which we’ll address in the early game.
The best McGinnis build in Deadlock
Early game
For abilities, grab your turrets first, then your Medicinal Specter, and then the Spectral Wall. After that, pump every point you’ve got into leveling Spectral Wall—you want to unlock the stun on hit as soon as you can.
If you’re against a close-range opponent in the lane, grab Active Reload first and then Healing Rite. If they’ve got a little range on them like a Vindicta or Grey Talon, do the opposite. Then we need to improve McGinnis’ Stamina, so grab Extra Stamina and Sprint Boots.
Extra Change will be handy to get another turret out, because this is how you’ll get through the early game. Finish off with Fleetfoot as an active to keep you moving while you hold down the trigger. Be sure to hit that Active Reload timing as it’s a long reload without it!
Mid game
After maxing out the Spectral Wall, grab a level in turrets, then one in Medicinal Specter. After that pump all your points into Medicinal Specter to use as a self-buff when you get the chain gun wound up. We’re enhancing damage now: Intensifying Magazine grants a damage buff the longer you hold down the trigger while Slowing Bullets keeps them in your sights.
I’d go for Titanic Magazine next if you’re ahead, otherwise grab Bullet Lifesteal if you’re struggling to survive or the team is behind. From here, Bullet Resist Shredder helps to follow up after landing shots from Heavy Barrage, and Suppressor slows their fire rate on hit meaning for an easier head-to-head.
Late game
Only go back for turret levels after maxing out your Medicinal Specter. If you’ve made it here, then we’re finishing up with some damage before going back for health and Stamina. Lucky Shot and Crippling Headshot are our starters, then we’ll grab Superior Stamina to finish off our movement.
We’ll get our next active here in Heroic Aura which boosts fire rate for everything around us, and Siphon Bullets which steals max HP from enemies on hit. We’ll close out with Inhibitor to further slow enemies and an assortment of vitality items—grab these based on the damage output of the opponent. If they’re hitting mainly with bullet damage, go Improved Bullet Armor first before Improved Spirit Armor. Leech is also very helpful in preventing burst healing.
In all, you’ll be a walking machine gun: A huge magazine means you’ll build heaps of stacks of bonus damage, and a well-timed reload from Active Reload means you won’t have much downtime at all. Practice landing that Spectral Wall to stun and prevent opponents from running away, then mow them down!
Alternate: Turret build
If running around as an unkillable walking machine gun isn’t cutting the mustard for you, why not get your turrets to do the job instead? Go for the same early-game build as above, but grab the following cards to better enhance your turrets in the mid and late-game:
- Improved Cooldown
- Soul Shredder Bullets
- Mystic Vulnerability
- Mystic Slow
- Rapid Recharge
- Escalating Exposure
- Superior Duration
Obviously you’ll need to adjust your skill build too: Grab one level in each ability, then max out the turrets first and the wall second. After picking up the above items, rotate into a few end-game cards above for yourself like Titanic Magazine and Spiritual Overflow.
